Pardew makes his first return to Madejski Stadium since his acrimonious departure for West Ham last September.

Reading fans were angered by their former manager's hasty exit - just weeks after he had pledged his future to the club at a supporters' forum.

But Coppell has urged Royals' followers to forget what has gone on in the past with his predecessor.

He said: "It won't help my team if a lot of the fans are invective about Alan Pardew, I'd rather they shouted my lads on than have a go at Alan."

Victory in the sell-out Division 1 clash, live on Sky TV (12.30pm kick-off), would lift Royals level on points with the Hammers and Coppell said: "For me this game means absolutely nothing more than the three points.

"It's got to mean more to him (Pardew) because of the connection, what went on and the things that were said. He felt he couldn't achieve his ambitions here in the time frame he wanted to and he felt West Ham could be a short cut to that. I think a lot of football people sympathise with that.

"His decision, though, was my good fortune, but I don't want the focus to be on everything else that comes with this match. I want the focus to be on the 11 players in blue-and-white shirts."

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